Doorlatch



R MARPLE El AL Aug. 22, 1933.

DOORLATCH Filed July 21, 1932 POZZO HZ? ATTORN EYS.

Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlci:

DOORLATCH Rollo Marple and Albert F. Baker, Jackson,

Mich., assignors to Hancock Manufacturing Company, a Corporation ofMichigan Application July 21, 1932. Serial No. 623,718

16 Claims.

of novel construction between the roll back hub and the handle spindleof a door latch, so arranged that the hub resiliently grips the spindledoor handle to therebyeliminate possible rattling between the parts.

Another object is the provision of a novel hub structure for a roll backfor a door latch so constructed as to resiliently grip the shank of acooperating door handle at all times and yet permitting a slight amountof universal movement between them.

Another object is the provision of means for resiliently contracting thehub of a roll back and at the same time forming an abutment forresilient means constantly urging the cooperating door handle toward apredetermined desired position.

Another object is the provision of resilient means interconnecting theroll back of a door latch with another part of the latch mechanismwhereby to constantly urge the cooperating door handle toward apredetermined desired position.

Another object is the provision of a radially resilient roll back huband cooperating handle spindle so constructed as to place the hub undertension.

Another object is the provision of a door latch having certain novelfeatures of construction.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the sameconsists in certain features of construction and combinations of partsto be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing,and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates suitable embodiments ofthe present invention and in which like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several different views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a door latch embodying one form ofthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism shown inFig. 1 but illustrating theposition of certain parts ofthe mechanismwhen the latchbolt is in retracted position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3 3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the contracting ring andspring abutment member employed in the construction shown in theprevious figures.

Fig.y 5 is a slightly enlarged end view of the hub member for the rollback shown in Figs. l to 3 in- 65 elusive.

Fig. l6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of y the roll back memberemployed in the construction shown in Figs. l to 3 inclusive.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of thepresent invention.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form ofconstruction.

Recent improvements in the power plants of automobiles which havematerially lessened the operating noise thereof have caused other noisesarising in other parts of the automobile to become increasinglyapparent. Among other parts employed in connection with automobiles andwhich during operation of the automobile may be a source of noise orrattling, are the door latches. Such latches conventionally include aplurality of parts at least some of which. because of the necessity ofproper clearance for their production and/or operation, or from wear, ifnotv other- Wise restrained, are subject to shock or vibration duringoperation of the motor car, resulting in rattles which up until recentlyhave not become noticeable due to the fact that they were drowned out bythe engine noise. However, as above pointed out with the advent ofquieter running engines, these noises have now become so noticeable asto be often obnoxious and their elimination in an eiiicient andeconomical manner olers many dimculties of solution. At least one phaseof the present invention deals with an efficient and economical mannerof eliminating certain noises that are liable to develop in automobiledoor latches.

We have found that one of the most prevalent sources of rattlesdeveloping in door latches is in the connection between the outside doorhandle and the roll back actuated thereby and employed for retractingthe latch bolt, and particularly between the shank of the handle and thehuh of the roll back. In the past, because of necessary manufacturingtolerances both in the construction of the latch itself and also in thedoor to which the latch is secured, it has been found that invariablythe shank of the handle was relatively loosely received in the hub oi'the roll -back, and as a result of this clearance relative of theseparts or of the door to which the latch is secured.

The construction provided for eliminating the possibility of rattlingbetween the shank of the door handle and the roll back admirably lendsitself to the provision of further means for constantly urging the doorhandle into a predetermined position except lwhen actually beingoperated, thus not only tending to eliminate rattling of the handle inits outer bearing in the door but also insuring the handle beingnormally maintained in its proper position relative to the door whichaids rather than detracts from the general appearance of the automobile.Although this latter feature of the present invention lends itself forcooperation with the parts provided for effecting the result firstdescribed, and is so shown in the drawing and hereinafter described, itwill also be apparent that it may be employed separately therefrom, butin view of the fact that it will be apparent to anyone skilled in theart what small structural changes are necessary for the separateutilization of the two features of the invention, it is not deemednecessary herein vto shovr.r or specifically describe such changes "asmight be necessary to eiect their separate uses.

As illustrative of one type of door latch to which the present inventionmay be applied, I show in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, a door latchcomprising a supporting plate 10, one edge of which is angularly bent asat 11 for cooperation with the free edge of the door in accordance withconventional practice. .The edge 11 is provided with an opening 12therein'through which the head of the latch bolt 13 projects and isslidably guided therein. The opposite end of the latch bolt 13 isprovided with an elongated slot 14 in which is slidably received a pin15 secured between the plate 10 and a strap-like bracket member 16suitably secured to the plate and bent into spaced relation with respectthereto so as to receive the latch bolt 13 and a swinging or pivotedlink 17 therebetween. The latch bolt 13 is therefore guided for thedesired sliding movement by the wall of the opening 12 and on the pin15.

The latch bolt 13, at its rear end, is provided with an upwardlyextending offset projecting part 18 providing an abutment 19 forcooperation with a rounded cam-like projection 20 on the pivoted link17. A link 21 pivotally connected to the pivoted link 17 as at 22 mayextend toward the center of the door where it may be connected to aninside handle (not shown) of any conventional construction in accordancewith conventional practice. A tongue 23 struck outwardly from the plate10 in spaced relation to the general plane thereof overlaps the near aeof the pivoted link 17 thereby confining the pivoted link 17 betweenitself and .the plate 10 so as to retain it in its proper relativeposition durin g operation. It also cooperates with a button 24 'pressedin the link 17 to effect a spring-like catch for holding the link 17 inlocked position. In the operation of this part of the mechanism, whenthe handle (not shown) adjacent the center of the door is operated topull the link 21 to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the pivotedlink 17 is caused to rotate in a counter clockwise direction and theprojection 20, .bearing against the abutment 19, causes the bolt 13 tobe retracted.

Adjacent its lower edge and adjacent the center thereof the materialfrom which the bolt 13 is formed isbent to provide a verticallyextending transverse lug or abutment 30 against the rear or left handface of which the end of a torsion spring 31 of conventionalconstruction bears to constantly urge the bolt 13 to projected position.

The left hand end of a sliding link 32 bears against the forward face ofthe abutment 30 and this link is provided with an upwardly extendingprojecting portion 33 which lies between the bolt 13 and the plate 10and thus serves to retain the link 32 in its proper lateral positionwith respect to the plate l0. The projection 33 also serves as anabutment for cooperation with the end portion 32a of the pivoted link 17when the latter is swung downwardly back of it to lock the link 32against rearward movement, and consequently lock the outside door handleagainst operation. A second projecting portion 33a extends over the topof the lug 30 and thus serves to properly support the rear end of thelink 32. At its forward end, the link 32 is provided with a pin 34 fixedthereto and which is slidably received in an angularly extending slot 35in the plate 10 and which therefore guides the right hand end of thesliding link 32 in its sliding movement.

A roll back assembly indicated generally as at in Figs. l and 2 isrotatably received between the plate l0 and a strap bracket 41 securedto the plate 10 at its upper and lower edges and positioned in generallyspaced l*relation with respect thereto over the remainder of its length.The

roll back 40 is provided with a cam finger 44 hav-y ing a rounded pointwhich is received in a depression 46 in the right hand end of thesliding link 32, so that when the roll back 40 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the cam finger 44presses the sliding link to the left, and the sliding link 32 in turnpresses the bolt 13 to the left and causes a retraction of the same.During this movement the forward end of the sliding link 32 is guided bythe engagement of the pin 34 in the slot 35 and the rounded tip 45 ofthe cam finger 44 rolls in the depression 46 of the sliding link 32 sothat a minimum amount of wear takes place between these parts.

In conventional constructions the roll back 40 :has conventionally beenmade integral, that is,

its hub and cam nger portion 44 has been formed in one piece. The hubportion of the same has been made solid and accordingly the squaredopening in the same provided for reception of the shank of an outsidedoor handle, such as illustrated in- Fig. 3 at 50, has necessarily beenmade slightly larger in dimensions than the end of the shank 50 in orderto take care of manufacturing tolerances both in the size of the openingand the end of the shank. The result has been thatin the majority ofthese constructions a slight looseness is unavoidable between the end ofthe shank and the squared opening, and this looseness permits a rattlingof the end of the shank in the opening under certain conditions. Aconstructicn for eliminating possibility of such rattling between theseparts constitutes one of the features of the present invention.

The roll back 40 in accordance with the present invention, is formedfrom three different parts, illustrated singly in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7,and in assembled relationship in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The hub 52 of theroll back and which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 and 6,constitutes one of these parts and, as illustrated in the figures, it isof generally cylindrical conformation on its exterior and is interiorlyprovided with a squared opening 54 in accordance with conventionalpractice for reception of the end of the outside door handle shank 50.The opening 54 is formed with as great, if not grec ter, clearanceprovision for the end of the shank 50 as in conventional constructions,but in the present case the hub 52 is slotted diametrically andaxially'as at 56 and 58 from opposite ends to approximately the midpointthereof, the slots 56 being angularly offset from the slots 58 so thatno severance of the hub 52 occurs. In the present case, :the slots 56cut through the corners of the squared opening 54 while the slots 58 cut midway through the side walls of the opening 54. By slotting the hub52 in this manner vit will be apparent that the hub, instead of being asolid and rigid member, is changed into a more-or-less resilientstructure, the ends of which may be sprung in a radial direction. Theouter surface of the hub 52 is provided on the quarters with axiallyextending peripheral grooves 60 the purpose of which will hereafter beapparent.

The roll back cam element 44, in accordance with the present invention,is formed as an' integral part of a continuous ring 62 having an opening64 therein for the reception of the hub member 52 therein, and whichopening is interiorly provided with inwardly struck tongues or keys 66corresponding in size and spacing 'with the grooves 60. The hub member52 is forced into the ring 62 with the keys 66 received within the slots60 and, accordingly, the cam finger element is non-rotatably fixed tothe hub member 52.

The third element of our roll back assembly constitutes the elementshown in detail in Fig. 4 and which comprises a split ring 68 ofresilient characteristics having an opening 'l0 therein of a sizeslightly smaller than the outside diameter of the hub member 52 when inunsprungcondition. The ring 68 isv also provided with an inwardlyextending projection or key '72 adapted to be received in one of thegrooves 60 for the purpose of non-rotatably anchoring it to the hubmember 52. The ring 68 is also provided with an outwardly extending hookportion '74 the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fullydisclosed.

The split ring member 68 is of such strength that when it is forced uponone end of the hub member 52, such end of the hub member 52 is caused tocontract radially to such an extent that regardless of relatively widemanufacturing tolerances in the size of the squared end on the handle ofthe shank 50, such squared end will always be closely and resilientlygripped by the hub member 52 when inserted therein. Accordingly, due tothis resilient gripping of the hub member on the handle shank allloosenessbetween the two parts is eliminated and any possibility ofrattling between these parts is obviated. Furthermore, because of thefact that but one end of the hub member 52 is contracted into engage-.,ment with the handle'shank 50, the play between the opposite ends ofthe hub and such shank permits a certain amount of universal movementbetween the shank and the hub, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3,and this is particularly desirable in view of the fact that in themanufacture of door panels it is not always possible to absolutely alignall of the openings and locating surfaces thereof to such an extent asto insure absolute alignment between the axis of the hub 52 when inassembled position and the opening (not shown) in the door through whichthe shank 50 projects. The provision of a slight amount of universalmovement of the shank 50 to take care vof any variations in the aboverespect is a further feature of the present invention.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of means forconstantly urging at all times the outside door handle into apredetermined desirable position. As will be apparent from an inspectionof Figs. 1 and 2 when the bolt 13 is in projected position, the spring31 which urges it to such position acts through the link 32 to force thefiat surface '76 on the cam finger 44 of the roll back 40 against theedge 11 of the plate 10 and thereby place both the link 32 and roll back40 under a resilient pressure which tends to keep these parts fromrattling against the plate 10, and also hold the roll back 4() in apredetermined rotatable position, which the outside door handles ofcourse conform with. However, when the latch bolt 13 is retracted by theinsidehandle by the means previously described it will be apparent thatthis resilient pressure on the link'32 and roll back 40 will berelieved, and should the weight of the outside door handle be oi centerthere will be a tendency for it to rotate out of its desired position.

In order to overcome such tendency of the outside door handle to rotateout of its desired position in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1to 7 inclusive, we strike one or more tongues '78 laterally outwardlyfrom the upper edge of the slidingl link 32 and then spring a curvedspring member 80 between the lug '78 and the hook end 74 on the splitring 68. The result of this construction is that the spring 80constantly urges the roll back 40 in a counter clockwise direction ofrotation and maintains it in such position except during those timesthat the outside door handle is-manually operated to retract the bolt13. At the same time the spring 80 causes the pin 34 in the sliding link32 to be resiliently pressed against the edge of the slot 35 in which itis received and tension the hub of the roll back in its bearing so as toeliminate any possibility of rattling occurring by reason of movement ofthese parts.

In Fig. 8 we have shown a modified form of the present invention. Inthis construction a plate 82 corresponding with the plate 10 previouslydescribed is provided with a bent up edge 83 corresponding to the edge11 eviously described. The latch bolt 84 is slida ly guided in the edge83 in accordance with conventional practice and a torsion spring 85pressing against an abutment 86 formed thereon constantly urges the bolt84 to projected position. In this construction a roll back including ahub 87, split ring 88 and cam finger member 89 of substantially the sameconstruction as previously described, is provided. In this case however,the cam finger 89 of the roll back engages directly against a downwardprojection 90 on the latch bolt 84 without the interposition of anysliding link such as the link 32 described in connection with Figs. 1 to7 inclusive. In this case the` split ring 88 instead of being disposedbetween the bracket member 91 and' the plate 82, corresponding tobracket 42 in the previous figures, is located outside of the bracket91, and in this case the bracket 91 is provided with an up struck lug 92between which and the hook 93 on the split ring 88 a spring 94 istensioned. The result of this construction is substantially identical tothat previously described inasmuch as the spring 94 constantly urges theroll back toward a predetermined rotative position with the cam finger89 in contact with the bent edge 83 of the plate 82, and thus constantlyurges the door handle toward a predetermined desirable position on theoutside of the door. The roll back itself, being of substantiallyidentical construction previously described, of course functions in thesame manner and achieves the same result.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated a modied form of our invention for causing aresilient gripping effect of the rollback on the spindle. In this casethe end of the spindle 50 which cooperates with the roll back hub 52 isprovided with square portion 100 which is non-rotatably received Withinthe square hole 54 of the hub 52 and this square portion 100 is boundedat its outer end with radially outwardly inclined surfaces 101. A screw102 threaded axially into the inner end of the end 100 urges a washer103 against the inner end of the roll back hub 52 and consequently tendsto pull the tapered portion 101 into the opening 54. This tends tospread the outer end of the hub 52 and causes it to resiliently grip thetapered portion v101, thereby preventing the possibility of rattlingbetween these parts. If desired, the hub 50, where it cooperates withthe tapered portion 101, may be tapered in a complementary manner as at104.

Although but two modifications of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that many other modifications and changes may be made after theteachings herein and, accordingly, formal changes may be made in thespecific embodiment of the invention described Without departing fromthe spirit and substance of the broad invention, the scope of which iscommensurate with the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back, a resilient hubtherefor, and resilient means constantly tending to contract said hub. Y

2. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back, a resilient hubtherefor having an opening therein, and resilient means acting on saidhub constantly urging it to a position to reduce the size of saidopening.

3. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back, a radiallyresilient hub therefor, and resilient means constantly urging said hubtoward radially contracted position.

4. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a hollowroll back hub one endof which is slotted and the other end of which is rigid, and resilientmeans embracing said slotted end tending to contract the same.

5. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back hub having aradially resilient end and a radially rigid end, and a split ringtensioned around said resilient end. v 6. In a latch mechanism, incombination, an axially slotted roll back hub, a' roll back cam memberkeyed thereon, and split spring ring tensioned around one end of saidhub tending to contract said end.

7. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a rolll back, a hub thereforhaving an opening therein,

one end only of said hub being resilient a shank member received in saidopening, and means c'onstantly urging said one end only of said hubtoward contracted relation with respect to said member.

8. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back, a hub thereforhaving an opening therein, a door handle shank received in said openingand having a limited amount of clearance over the greater part thereof,one end of said hub being yieldable, and means engaging said end tendingto contract it on said shank.

9. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a latch bolt, a roll back, alink operatively connecting said roll back and bolt, and spring meanstensioned between said link and roll back constantly urging said rollback to a predetermined rotatable. position.

10. Iny a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back, a hub thereforhaving a yieldable end, resilient means constantly tending to contractsaid end, and a spring co-operating with the said means constantlyurging said roll back to a predetermined rotative position.

11. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back, a hub thereforhaving a yieldable end, a split ring surrounding said end tending tocontract it, an abutment on said ring, and a spring engaging saidabutment constantly urging said roll back to a predetermined rotativeposition.

12. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a

roll back, a hub therefor having a radially lyieldable end, an openingthrough said hub, a handle shank received in said opening in generallylooser relationship with respectv thereto, a split ring keyed againstrotation relative to said hub received around said yieldable end andurging it lnto gripping relation with respect to said shank, an abutmenton said ring, and a spring contactlng said abutment constantly urgingsaid roll back to one limit of its rotatable position.

13. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back, a hub thereforhaving a radially yieldable end, an opening through said hub, a handleshank received in' said opening in generally loose relationship withrespect thereto, a split ring keyed against rotation relative to saidhub received around said yieldable end and urging it into grippingrelation with respect to said shank, a'n abutment on'said ring, a latchbolt, a sliding link operatively connecting -said roll back and saidbolt, and a spring tensioned between said abutment yand said linkconstantly urging said roll back to one limit of its rotatable position.

y 14. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back having a singlepiece radially resilient hub, and a spindle received in said hub andresiliently gripped thereby.

15. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back having a hubaxially slotted at one end only thereof for imparting radial resiliencythereto, and a handle shank received in said hub, and means for causingsaid shank to be resiliently gripped thereby comprising a resilientmember encircling the slotted end of said hub and urging it towardradially contracted position. f

16. In a latch mechanism, in combination, a roll back having a singlepiece radially resilient hub, a handle spindle received in said hub,vand means cooperating between said spindle and hub tending tovconstantly place said hub under tension.

ROLLO MARPLE.

ALBERT F. BAKER.

